Loading and releasing mechanism for bow and arrow



F. GRAHAM Nov. 21, 1961 LOADING AND RELEASING MECHANISM FOR BOW AND ARROW Filed July 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RLS QQ mwwm 0 s 9% u H Y F. GRAHAM Nov. 21, 1961 LOADING AND RELEASING MECHANISM FOR BOW AND ARROW Filed July 1. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /5 8 /5a (/76 m 1e. 3. f

a 2 Ff J l/PO FLOYD GRAHAM INVENTOR HUEBNER 8 WORREL A TTORNEVS WWW Unite tates The present invention relates to a loading and releasing mechanism for a bow and arrow and more particularly to an improved triggering mechanism for receiving a bowstring and arrow of an archery set in predetermined postion and for shooting the arrow incident to triggered release of the bowstring for movement thereof into engagement with the arrow.

In the sport of archery, the conventional manner of drawing a bowstriug with an arrow fitted thereto, and of holding the bowstring in drawn postion while aiming, is frequently difficult to accomplish. This is especially so for a neophyte whose fingers and hand muscles are not accustomed to these tasks. As a result, it may he impossible to draw the bowstiing to the full extent desired. A perfect aim is more difiicult to accomplish, and the speed of loading and shooting an arrow is reduced. It is also known that the manual release of the string and arrow frequently ruins the aim previously carefully taken.

The problems described above have been recognized by the prior art. It is known to provide a triggering mechanism for receiving a bowstring and an arrow, for holding the ho-wstring in cocked position behind the arrow, and for automatically releasing the howstring upon pressing the trigger. Such mechanisms usually provide a grip for allowing the archer to grasp the mechanism instead of having to hold the arrow and the bowstring directly between the fingers in the conventional manner.

Insofar as it is known, all of the triggering mechanisms of the prior art are subject to certain disadvantages. F or example, such mechanisms require that the 'bowstring be placed in the mechanism in advance of the arrow. This is not only inconvenient but unnatural since conventionally the arrow is fitted .to the bowstring and thereafter the bowstiing drawn. Accordingly, the speed and versatility of loading and drawing a bow and arrow with the known triggering mechanisms is somewhat limited. Further, it has not been possible to remove an arrow from a quiver with such a triggering mechanism requiring prior association with the bowstring. Thus, it has been necessary first manually to withdraw the arrow from the quiver and manually to place it into the triggering device, operations precluding the attainment of the desired advantages of such a device.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a loading and releasing mechanism for a howstring and an arrow of an archery set.

Another object is to provide an improved triggering mechanism for releasably receiving a bowstring and an arrow in predetermined position therein and for shooting the arrow incident to triggened release of the howstring thereby allowing the 'bowstring to move into engagement with the arrow.

Another object is to relieve the fatigue of the hand and fingers usually experienced in the drawing of a bowstring by conventional methods.

Another object is to allow an archer to improve his aim and shooting techniques by facilitating the drawing of a bowstring with an arrow fitted therein.

Another object is to provide a triggering mechanism into which an arrow can be loaded directly from a quiver and prior to association with a :bowstring.

Another object is to provide such a loading and releasing mechanism which is adapted for placing the arrow in various positions against the how as, for example, in accommodating both left and right-handed archers.

atent Another object is to provide a mechanism of the nature described which permits vastly increased speed in loading and releasing of a bowstring and an arrow as compared with prior practices.

Other objects are to provide a triggering mechanism for an archery set which is simple and economical to construct, dependable in action, and which is adapted for use with various sizes and types of bows and arrows.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a bow and arrow and of the mechanism embodying the principles, of the present invention, said mechanism being held in the hand of an archer with the bowstring and arrow in drawn position.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged side elevation of the triggering mechanism in cocked position with an arrow, at bowstring and the hand of an archer being fragmentari- 1y illustrated indashed lines.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the triggering mechanism in cocked position and also illustrating a bow in transverse cross section and a bowstring and arrow loaded into the mechanism, the arrow being broken away in the middle for illustrative convenience.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2 but showing an arrow loaded into the mechanism in cross section.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged longitudinal dross section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the triggering mechanism showing in particular one of the arrow engaging jaws employed in the mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a perspective vew of one form of cylinder employed in the triggering mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the tliggeiing mechanism of the subject invention adapted for placing an arrow against the bow in a diiferent manner than the triggering mechanism as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second form of cylinder as employed with the triggering mechanism as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a substan-' tially rectangular holding plate 15 is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes first and second longitudinal edges 16 and 17, front and rear transverse edges 19 and 20, and opposite outwardly disposed side surfaces 22 and 23. Preferably the plate is made of plastic but may be constructed of many other materials. Inasmuch as the plate is usually disposed in vertical position for shooting an arrow, the parts of the mechanism are conveniently described with reference to such position. Obviously, this is not intended to limit the position of the plate.

The plate 15 has a pair of vertically disposed substantially oval finger-receiving apertures 28 and 29 adjacent to the rear edge 20 of the plate with their major axes in substantial longitudinal alignment and disposed substantially transversely of the plate. The plate also has a substantially rectangular opening 32 relatively adjacent to the front edge 19 and located substantially equidistantly between the first and second edges 16 and 17. For purposes of subsequent reference, the opening 32 is defined by front and rear transverse edges 33 and 34 and first and second longitudinal edges 36 and 37. The front and rear edges of the opening are parallel with each other and with the front and rear edges 19 and 20 of the plate. A similar parallel relationship exists between the first and second edges 36, 37, '16 and 17 of the opening and of the plate.

The plate 15 provides an elongated longitudinally extended arrow-receiving socket 42 extended from the front edge 19 of the plate rearwardly and communicating with the opening 32 through its front edge 33. The socket is fractionally cylindrical, as shown in FIG. 5, and opens laterally outwardly from the side surface 22 of the plate. In addition, the plate has an elongated transversely extended bore 44 extended from the first longitudinal edge 16 to the opening and in substantial alignment with the line transversely bisecting the opening. The bore has an inner end extended into the plate from the second edge 37 of the opening and is provided with threads adjacent to the first edge 16 of the plate.

The plate 15 also has first and second jaw-receiving cavities 50 and 51 disposed on opposite sides of the arrow socket 42 and opening outwardly from the side surface 22 of the plate. As best seen in FIGS. 2, and 7, the second cavity has an inner substantially rectangular section 52, an outer section 53 smaller in longitudinal dimension than the inner section and opening into the socket. A pair of longitudinally aligned shoulders 54 are defined between the inner and outer sections of the second cavity. The second cavity also has a plateau 55 extended around the inner and outer sections. The first cavity also opens into the socket in opposed relation to the outer section of the second cavity, as best seen in FIG. 5.

A substantially rectangular first arrow engaging jaw 60 is mounted in the first cavity 50 for adjustable movement transversely of the plate toward and away from the socket 42. The first jaw has an inner edge 61, an outer edge 62 which is tapered inwardly at its rear end, a pair of transversely extended front and rear edges 64, and a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extended slots 65. Bolts 68 are extended through the slots and into the plate, and provide ends outwardly extended from the side surface 23 of the plate. Nuts 69 are screwthreaded on the bolts. The first jaw has a rearwardly disposed tab 70 outwardly extended from the outer edge 62 of the jaw into the socket.

A T-shaped second arrow engaging jaw 75 is fitted in the second cavity 51 and includes an inner edge 76, an outer edge 77 having an inwardly tapered rear end portion, front and rear edges 78, and a pair of longitudinally oppositely extended ears 79 engageable with the shoulders 54 for limiting transverse adjustable movement of the second jaw inwardly of the socket 42. An arcuate jaw spring 82 is fitted in the inner section 52 of the second cavity 51 and engages the inner edge 76 of the second jaw for urging the ears into engagement with the shoulders and thus the second jaw toward the socket. Preferably a cap 83 of metal or other hard material is placed in the outer section 53 of the second cavity adjacent to a shoulder 54 thereof and provides a longitudinal flange rested on the plateau and a transverse flange extended into the outer section of the cavity. As the second jaw 75 slides inwardly and outwardly of the second cavity, the rear edge 78 bears against the cap 83. Thus the cap protects the rear edge of the outer section 53 of the second cavity 51 from wear at a point where experience has shown that considerable rubbing occurs. The second jaw also has a rearwardly disposed tab 84 outwardly extended from the outer edge 77 into the socket in edgewardly adjacent spaced, substantially coplanar relationship with the tab 70.

A cover panel 86 is placed in the second cavity 51 and rested on the plateau 55 in overlying relation to the spring 82, the second jaw 75 and the cap 83. The panel, the plate 15, and the cap 83 are provided with apertures which receive bolts 88 having ends extended outwardly from the surface 23 of the plate and on which nuts 89 are screw-threaded.

An inside pickup cylinder of catch 95, preferably made of plastic, is positioned in the opening 32 and provides an axial bore 96 aligned with the bore 44 in the plate 15. An elongaged pin 98 is slidably extended into the plate bore and through the bore in the cylinder. The pin has an inner tapered end 99 received in the inner end of the plate bore, an outer threaded section 100 screwthreaded into the threaded portion of the bore, and an outer manipulating knurled head 101. Thus, the cylinder is concentrically mounted in the opening for rotation about an axis transversely of the plate and substantially normal to the socket 42.

The cylinder 95 has a side wall circumscribing the axial bore 96 and which side wall is in closely adjacent spaced relation to the front and rear edges 33 and 34 of the opening 32. The cylinder also has radial end faces 106 in closely adjacent spaced relation to the first and second edges 36 and 37 bordering the opening. The cylinder provides an elongated outwardly opening longitudinally extended, with respect to itself, substantially U- shaped bowstring-receiving groove 108, best seen in FIG. 3. This groove is defined by a relatively forward string engaging surface 199 and a relatively rearward trigger engaging surface 110. The surfaces 169 and 110 are opposed and converge inwardly to an apex. The groove opens outwardly of the cylinder as is apparent in FIGS. 3 and 8.

Preferably, a wear strip 112, of metal or some other hard material, is secured to the cylinder 95 in overlaying relation to the trigger engaging surface 110. The side surface of the cylinder provides an elongated channel extending circumferentially of the cylinder having a forward end terminating in the forward surface 109 and a rearward end terminating in adjacent spaced relation to the rearward surface 110 of the groove 108. The channel increases in depth measured radially of the cylinder from its rearward end adjacent to the trigger engaging surface to its forward end adjacent to the string engaging surface. The cylinder is rotatable on the pin 98 and has a predetermined angular bowstringreceiving position, shown in FIG. 3, wherein the groove is disposed outwardly from the side surface 22 of the plate 15 in rearwardly spaced relation to the socket 42. Although the recise shape of the groove in transverse cross section is not critical, it is preferable that the string engaging surface 109 be slightly tangulated whereby an inner portion thereof is radial to the cylinder and an outer portion thereof is substantially normal to the socket 22 when the cylinder is in said bowstring-receiving position. In a similar manner, it is preferable if the trigger engaging surface 110 has an outer portion thereof substantially parallel to the outer portion of the string engaging surface in the bowstringreceiving position of the cylinder.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, a pair of mounting or fulcrum brackets 12%) is secured to the side surface 22 of the plate 15 in rearwardly adjacent relation to the opening 32 by means of bolts 121 and nuts 122 and provide laterally outwardly extended substantially parallel trigger supporting flanges 123 having opposed apertures 124. Also, the supporting flanges provide inwardly extended stops 126 in laterally spaced relation to the side surface 22 of the plate.

A sinuously shaped trigger 130 is positioned between the trigger supporting flanges 123 and provides a hooked cylinder engaging end 131 extended forwardly in outwardly spaced relation to the opening 32, a manipulating end 132 extended rearwardly between the fingerreceiving apertures 28 and 29, and outwardly oppositely extended trunnions 133 intermediate said ends of the supporting flanges. The trigger is thus mounted for rocking movement between a cocked position with the cylinder engaging end extended into the groove 108 into engagement with the rear surface 110 when the cylinder 95 is in its bowstring-receiving position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and a releasing position with said cylinder engaging end retracted from the groove.

An elongated trigger leaf spring 140 provides a rear end mounted on a bar 141 by means of clamps 142, and the bar is secured to the plate by means of a bolt 143 and a nut 144- wh-ereby the forwardly extended end of the spring is in engagement with the trigger 130 in rearwardly spaced relation to the trunnions 133. The trigger spring yieldably urges the trigger into its cocked position but is easily depressed by pressure applied to the manipulating end 132 of the trigger. In addition, after the trigger is released and the cylinder moved out of its bowstring-receiving position, the spring urges the cylinder engaging end 131 into slidable engagement with the side wall 155 of the cylinder. The cylinder engaging end of the trigger is received in the channel 115 during rotational movement of the cylinder. With particular reference to FIG. 3, and assuming that the trigger is released from the groove 108 and is in engagement with the side wall of the cylinder immediately rearwardly adjacent to the trigger engaging surface 110, the trigger is returned to its cocked position as the cylinder is rotated in a clockwise direction. This is because a portion of the channel is graded in depth whereby the cylinder holds the trigger into a fully retracted position when the end 131 is adjacent to the rear surface 110 and allows the spring 140 to return the trigger to substantially cocked position as the end 131 approaches the string engaging surface 1159.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. In connection with the operation of the invention, reference is made to an archery set including a bow 150 having a left side 151 and a right side 152, a bowstring 153 tensioned on the bow in the well-known arrangement, and an elongated arrow 154. Further describing the arrow, it has an elongated shank 155 terminating in a sharpened tip 156 and a rear end or a neck 157, oval in cross section, and provided with a notch 158.

Prior to use, the cylinder 95 is placed in its bowstringreceiving position so that the trigger 130 is in its cocked position having the end 131 engaging the rear surface 110 of the groove 108. Assuming that a plurality of arrows 154 are contained in a quiver, not shown, and that the bow 150 is grasped in the left hand 165 of the archer, the archer grasps the plate 15 in his right hand 166. For this purpose the first forefinger is extended through the finger aperture 28 and the second, and possibly the third, forefinger is extended through the finger aperture 29; the thumb is disposed adjacent to the side surface 22 near the manipulating end 132 of the trigger 138 and the little finger is rested against the second edge 17 or back edge 20 of the plate, all as best seen in FIG. 2. The front edge 19 of the plate 15 is then thrust into the quiver, not shown, and the socket 42 is aligned with an arrow 154 and slidab-ly fitted over the nock 157 of the arrow releasably to hold the arrow. So held in the device, the arrow is drawn from the quiver. The arrow is adjusted in the socket so that the tabs 70 and 84 extend into the notch 158 and so that the nock extends slightly into the opening 32. The tabs press lightly against the inward-1y disposed surface of the neck defining the notch and take up less than onequarter of the width of the notch. It is to be noted that the channel 115 in the cylinder 95 accommodates the neck 158 inasmuch as the channel is in alignment with the socket 42. The jaws 60 and 75 releasably frictionally engage the neck to hold the arrow dependably in position and to resist axial and rotational movement the socket. Parenthetically, it is to be noted that the first arrow engaging jaw 60 may have to be adjusted trans- 5 versely'in the first cavity 50 depending upon the specific dimensions of the arrows 154 being employed.

The tip 156 of the arrow 154 is extended between the bow 150 and the bowstring 153, from the right side 152 of the bow toward the left side 1511 thereof, and thence into engagement with the left side of the bow. The arrow is then moved rearward-1y by means of the plate 15. At the same time the bowstring 153 is fitted into the groove 108. The bowstring is then drawn rearwardly in the usual manner and an aim is taken at the target. When the bowstring is drawn by the subject mechanism, as described, the cylinder is urged to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, but is precluded from such rotation by the trigger in a cocked position. When it is desired to shoot the arrow, the thumb is pressed on the manipulating end 13 2 of the trigger to retract the end 131 from the groove 158. The cylinder is thus released for rotation under urgence of the bowstring. When the groove 108 faces forwardly, the bowstring slips out of the groove and moves into the notch 158 in the neck 157 in slidable overlaying relation to the tabs 70 and 84 whereup the arrow is forced out of the socket 42 and projected in the direction aimed. It is to be noted that the bowstring slides easily over the tabs of the jaws 60 and 75. Whereas the tabs dependably hold the arrow prior to shooting, they freely release the arrow incident to engagement of the bowstring with the arrow upon pressing the trigger.

The potential energy of the bowstring 153 in being released by the trigger 130 is sutficient to rotate the cylinder 95 three-hundred and sixty degrees whereby the end 131 of the trigger again drops into the groove 108 so that the device is preconditioned for a subsequent arrow.

Second form of cylinder The above described manner in which the arrow 154 is placed against the bow 150 is referred to as an inside pickup. For outside pickup, to be described more fully hereinafter, it is necessary to modify the triggering mechanism and in particular the cylinder. Accordingly, an outside pickup triggering cylinder 175 is illustrated in FIG. 10 and includes an axial bore 176, end faces 177, a side wall 178 having a channel 179, and an elongated outwardly and cndwa-rdly opening string-receiving groove 180. The outside cylinder also has a longitudinally extended trigger engaging abutment 182 located in the channel 179 in circumferentially spaced relation to the groove and substantially diametrically opposite to the string engaging surface 183 thereof.

In other respects, the triggering mechanism includes the same parts as described above except that their attachment to the plate 15 is somewhat different. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 9, the manner of converting the triggering mechanism from an inside pickup condition to an outside pickup condition is now described. First, the plate is inverted from its position in FIG. 2 so that the second edge 17 is disposed above the first edge 16. The bolts and nuts 121, 122, 143 and 144 are removed and the mounting brackets 120, the trigger 130, and the spring are removed from the surfaces 22 of the plate 15 and remounted in precisely the same manner, and using the same apertures in the plate, on the opposite side surface 23 of the plate, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

The pin 98 is unth-readed and removed and the inside pickup cylinder 95 is replaced by the outside pickup cylinder 175 so that the cylinder has a bowstring-receiving position, illustrated in FIG. 9, wherein the end 131 of the trigger 130 extends into the channel @179 into engagement with the abutment 182 to preclude counterclockwise rotation of the cylinder. With these simple changes, the triggering mechanism is ready for use.

With the bow held in the left hand 65 and with the plate 15 grasped in the right hand .16 with the forefingers extended into the apertures 28 and 29, the mock 157 of an arrow 154 is slidably received in the socket 42 and releasably held by the jaws 6t) and 75 in the same manner as previously described. This time, however, the arrow and the plate are held generally to the left of the arrow and bowstring 153 and the bow swung in an are around the fingers as an axis into engagement with the left side 151 of the bow while holding the plate relatively adjacent to the bowstring. Thereafter, the bowstring is fitted into the groove 18% and drawn rearwardly by means of the plate. After aim is taken, the trigger 130 is pressed to release the cylinder 175 under the urgence of the bowstring whereupon the cylinder is rotated and the string moves into the notch 158 to shoot the arrow. Thereafter, the cylinder is returned to its bowstring-receiving position for asubsequent shooting.

While the first and second forms of the invention are shown and described for right-handed archers, either can be used by left-handed archers simply by inverting the plate 15 and using the aperture 29 for the left forefinger and the aperture 28 for the second and third forelfingers. In other respects the procedure of use is simply reversed, as is believed evident.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a compact mechanism has been provided for loading and releasing an arrow and a bowstring of an archery set. The device is designed primarily to relieve fatigue on the fingers of an archer and to enable more accurate shooting of the arrow particularly over extended periods of time. With the device of the subject invention, it is possible to load an arrow into the device directly from a quiver, and to load an arrow prior to engagement with the bowstring in a natural manner. Further the device is adaptable either to inside or outside pickup of the arrow and either for right-handed or left-handed archers. The mechanism is simple, easy to adjust and convert, dependable in operation, and relatively inexpensive to produce.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A loading and releasing mechanism for a bow including a bowstring and an arrow, comprising a holder having a front edge, a rear edge, an outwardly disposed side surface, an opening adjacent to said front edge, and an elongated arrow-receiving socket extended from the front edge into the opening; means mounted on said side surface of the holder adjacent to the socket for releasably guiding an arrow slidably into the socket whereby the arrow projects forwardly from the holder; an elongated cylinder disposed in the opening of the holder; means engaging the holder and concentrically mounting the cylinder in the opening in lateral extension from said side surface and for rotation about an axis substantially normal to the socket, the cylinder having an outer side wall circumscribing said axis and providing an outwardly opening longitudinally extended bowstring groove substantially parallel to the cylinder axis, the cylinder further having a predetermined angular bowstring-receiving position wherein that part of the cylinder providing the groove is extended outwardly from said side surface in rearwardly spaced relation to the socket so that said groove opens laterally outwardly from said side surface, the groove being adapted to receive a bowstring under tension in said bowstring-receiving position whereby the cylinder is urged to rotate in a predetermined didirection and a released position permitting rotation of the cylinder under urgence of the bowstring for movement thereof into engagement with an arrow in the socket, said groove being substantially U-shaped and being defined by opposed angularly related bowstring and trigger engaging surfaces disposed relatively forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, of each other and extended outwardly from said side surfaces when the cylinder is in said bowstring-receiving position and converging inwardly of the cylinder, the bowstring being tensioned against said bowstring engaging surface in said bowstring-receiving position, said trigger having opposed cylinder engaging and manipulating ends, said cylinder engaging end contacting the trigger engaging surface of the groove in said cocked position; fulcrum means interconnecting the holder and the trigger intermediate its ends for pivotal movement of the trigger between its cocked and retracted positions; and a spring interposed between the trigger and the holder yieldably urging the trigger into engagement with the cylinder and into contact with the trigger engaging surface in said bowstring'receiving position, the cylinder having a channel extended circumferentially of the cylinder between the bowstring-receiving surface and the trigger engaging surface in alignment with the trigger, receiving the same in fitted relation therein, and being graduated in depth measured radially of the cylinder whereby adjacent to the trigger engaging surface the channel depth is approximately equal to the maximum radius of the cylinder and adjacent to said string engaging surface the channel depth is less than said maximum cylinder radius.

A loading and releasing mechanism for a bow including a bowstring and an arrow comprising a substantially rectangular plate having transverse front and rear edges, longitudinal edges interconnecting the transverse edges, opposite outwardly disposed side surfaces, a substantially rectangular opening disposed transversely of the plate adjacent to said front edge, an elongated longitudinally extended arrow-receiving socket extended from the front edge into the opening and a pair of finger-receiving apertures adjacent to said rear edge; opposed jaws relatively yieldably resiliently urged toward each other mounted on the plate adjacent to the socket for releasably guiding an arrow slidably into the socket whereby the arrow extends forwardly from the plate; an elongated cylinder disposed in the opening of the plate and extended outwardly from opposite side surfaces of the plate; a pin mounted in the plate and concentrically journaling the cylinder in the opening for rotation about an axis substantially normal to the socket, the cylinder having an outer side wall circumscribing said axis and providing an outwardly opening longitudinally extended bowstring groove substantially parallel to the cylinder axis, the cylinder further having a predetermined angular bowstring-receiving position wherein the groove is disposed outwardly from one of said side surfaces in rearwardly spaced relation to the socket, the groove being adapted to receive a bowstring under tension in said bowstring-receiving position whereby the cylinder is urged to rotate in a predetermined direction by the bowstring; and a trigger mounted on the plate for movement between a cocked position engaging the cylinder in said bowstring-receiving position for precluding rotation of the cylinder in said predetermined direction and a released position permitting rotation of the cylinder under urgence of the bowstring for movement thereof into engagement with an arrow in the socket.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the groove has opposed bowstring and trigger engaging surfaces, said bowstring and trigger engaging surfaces are relatively forwardly and rearwardly disposed in said bowstring-receiving position, and the trigger releasably engages the trigger engaging surface of the groove in said cooked position.

4. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the groove has a bowstring-engaging surface, the cylinder has a trigger engaging sunface substantially diametrically opposite to said bowstring-engaging surface, said bowstring and trigger engaging surfaces are respectively laterally outwardly extended from opposite side surfaces of the plate in said bowstring-receiving position, the trigger is mounted on the side surface of the plate from which said trigger engaging surface extends in the bowstring-receiving position, and the trigger engages said trigger engaging surface in said cocked position.

5. A loading and releasing mechanism for a bow including a bowstring and an arrow comprising a plate having transverse front and rear edges, longitudinal edges, opposite outwardly disposed side surfaces, an opening disposed transversely of the plate adjacent to said front edge, an elongated longitudinally extended arrow-receiving socket extended from the front edge into the opening; opposed jaws relatively yieldably resiliently urged toward each other mounted on the plate adjacent to the socket for releasably guiding an arrow slidably into the socket whereby the arrow extends forwardly from the plate; an elongated cylinder disposed in the opening of the plate and extended outwardly from opposite side surfaces of the plate, a pin mounted in the plate and concentrically journaling the cylinder in the opening for rotation about an axis substantially normal to the socket, the cylinder having an outer side wall circumscribing said axis and providing an outwardly opening longitudinally extended bowstring groove substantially parallel to the cylinder axis, the cylinder further having a predetermined angular bowstring-receiving position wherein the groove is disposed outwardly from One of said side surfaces in rearwardly spaced relation to the socket, the groove being adapted to receive a bowstring under tension in said bowstring-receiving position whereby the cylinder is urged to rotate in a predetermined direction by the bowstring; and a trigger mounted on the plate for movement between a cocked position engaging the cylinder in said bowstring-receiving position for precluding rotation of the cylinder in said predetermined direction and a released position permitting rotation of the cylinder under urgence of the bowstring for movement thereof into engagement with an arrow in the socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,133,650 Baker Oct. 18, 1938 2,417,791 Tyszkiewicz Mar. 18, 1947 2,815,016 Kellogg Dec. 3, 1957 

